Discover the Secret and Fascinating North Korea

North Korea piques the curiosity of adventurers seeking thrills and the unexpected. One thinks they know what they are looking for: the survival of a totalitarian communist state, excessive surveillance, or a unique experience. However, it is difficult to predict what one will actually take away from it. Once there, our views and preconceptions change, for better or worse. This country, although largely unknown to the general public, is a media star. Negative reports fuel travelers' desire to go there to form their own opinions. Thus, the North Korean regime is an attractive destination for some. This is the case for Andrew Swearingen, a Danish student at Oxford, who visited North Korea in 2005 out of "morbid curiosity." He justifies his trip by the totalitarian nature of the regime and the desire to see it with his own eyes. North Korea offers a mix of heightened security for tourists and total disorientation, sometimes giving the impression of being a goldfish in a gilded bowl.

Traveling to the place means comparing what we are told in our daily media with reality. It is about verifying the information about this country, which is abundant but often clouded by preconceived ideas. While one can criticize North Korea in many respects, there are also some pleasant surprises. Who knows that many apartments in Pyongyang are equipped with solar panels, or that you can see beautiful German sedans and American SUVs on the streets? We only hear about the economic sanctions, but not how some countries, which initiated the sanctions, continue to indirectly sell their goods to North Korea. The majority of the current population was born under this regime, knowing only what they are told and nothing else. Visiting North Korea is thus worth all the documentaries and books dedicated to this country, provided one knows how to open their eyes.

Finally, the real advantage of a trip to North Korea is that when you return to Europe, you appreciate the freedom you have much more after having lacked it there. This is incomparable to what the North Korean population obviously goes through. It is quite strange to realize that you cannot leave the hotel in the evening or take the bus with the local population. Having the freedom to move freely in your own country is something obvious for us, but not for them. North Koreans need permits to travel.